Now, the things which m this communion Christ reveals to them that he delights in, may be referred to these two heads: — 1. Him- self. 2. His kingdom.
1. Himself John xiv. 21, "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him;" — "manifest myself in all my graces, desirableness, and loveliness; he shall know me as I am, and such I Avill be unto him, — a Saviour, a Redeemer, the chiefest of ten thousand." He shall be acquainted with the true worth and value of the peaid of price; let others look upon him as having neither fomi nor comeliness, as no way desirable, he will manifest himself and his excellencies unto them in whom he is delighted, that they shall see him altogether lovely. He will vail himself to all the world ; but the saints with open face shall behold his beauty and his gloiy, and so be translated into the image of the same glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. iii. -18.
2. His kingdom. They shall be acquainted with the government of his Spirit in their hearts; as also with his nde and the adminis- tration of authority in his word, and among his churches.
(1.) Thus, in the first place, doth he manifest his delight in his saints, — he communicates his secrets unto them. He gives them to know his person, his excellencies, his grace, his love, liis kingdom, his will, the riches of his goodness, and the bowels of his mercy, more and more, when the world shall neither see nor know any such thing.
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(2.) He enables Ms saints to commimicate their mind, to reveal their souls, unto him, that so they may walk together as intimate friends. Christ knows the minds of all. He knows what is in man, and needs not that any man testify of him, John ii. 25. He searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins of all, Rev. ii. 23. Bvit all know not how to communicate their mind to Christ. It will not avail a man at all that Christ knows his mind ; for so he doth of every one, whe- ther he will or no ; — but that a man can make his heart known unto Christ, this is consolation. Hence the prayers of the saints are^ in- cense, odours; and those of others are^ howling, cutting off a dog's neck, offering of swine's blood, — an abomination unto the Lord. Now, three things are required to enable a man to communicate hi.s heart unto the Lord Jesus: —
[L] Assistance for the work; for of ourselves we cannot do it. And this the saints have by the Spirit of Jesus, Rom. viii. 26, 27, " Like- wise the Spuit also helpeth our infirmities : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought ; but the Spmt itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth tlie hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." All endea- vours, all attempts for communion with God, without the supplies of the Spirit of supplications, without his effectual working in the heart, is of no value, nor to any purpose. And this opening of our hearts and bosoms to the Lord Jesus is that wherein he is exceedingly de- lighted. Hence is that affectionate call of his unto us, to be treating with him on this account. Cant. ii. 14, "0 my dove, that art in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely." When the soul on any account is driven to hide itself, — in any neglected con- dition, in the most unlikely place of abode, — then doth he call for this communication of itself by prayer to him; for which he gives the assistance of the Spirit mentioned.
[2.] A way whereby to approach unto God with our desires. This, also, we have by him provided for us, John xiv. 5, 6, " Thomas saith unto Jesus, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the^ way; no man Cometh unto the Father, but by me." That way which we had of going unto God at our creation is quite shut up by sin. The sword of the law, which hath fire put into it by sin, turns every way, to stop all passages unto communion with God. Jesus Christ hath " conse- crated a'* new and living way" (for the saints) " through the vail,
' Eev.viii.3. 3Hos.vii.l4; Isa.lxvi.3; Prov.xxviii.9. ^"Yeravia vita^."— Bez. * " Via nullius ante trita solo, noofftparov xa) Z,Z:rav, rtcens iiitcrfectam; tamea viventeni."
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that is to say, his flesh," Heb. x. 20. He hath consecrated and set it apart for believers, and for them alone. Others pretend to go to God with their prayers, but they come not nigh him. How can they possibly come to the end who go not in the way? Christ only is the way to the throne of grace; none comes to God but by him. "By him we have an access in one Spirit unto the Father," Eph. ii. 18. These two things, then, the saints have for the opening of theu' hearts at the throne of grace, — assistance and a way. The assistance of the Spirit, without which they are nothing ; and the way of Christ's me- diation, without which God is not to be approached unto.